Annie’s Haunting Memoirs and The ABC Detective Agency

“YOU LOOK PATHETIC HOBBLING DOWN the drive with that stick,” said Maggie Hurst, Head of the George Pound School, to her friend Annie Butcher. “And what’s more it gets in the way in the car. When are you getting your new one?” “Stick or car?” answered Annie. She had already ordered the new car ‘and about time’ she thought. The new automatic car would be perfect for a disabled driver, her broken leg was mending, she would not be disabled for much longer and no longer have to listen to Maggie in a bad mood (this was unusual so what was up?) She kept silent and waited. “Sorry,” said Maggie, “I’ve a bit of a problem – it’s Lance.” It would be Lance, thought Annie, it always was. Maggie’s husband was Head of Music at the College. Annie sighed. Lance didn’t mean to be trouble but he always was a bit of an enigma “Come to supper,” said Maggie. “You can hobble that far, then I can tell you at leisure. I need your wisdom.” “Great, I’ll come,” replied Annie. “Whose turn is it to cook?” But Maggie had already started on the story. “I’ll tell you more tonight,” she said as she dropped Annie off at The Lilacs. “Come early,” she said. Annie did and heard the story again from Maggie. It was at Breakfast when Lance had opened an official looking envelope. He gave a startled exclamation. “Would you believe it,” he then said. “What?” asked Maggie. “Anything up, Pa?” asked Jane. “Would you believe it,” Lance repeated. “Great Uncle George has left me a house.” Comments came quick and fast, a house? The children were fascinated. “Who is Great Uncle George?” “Why?” “Where is it?” “Why you?” “I never knew we had a great Uncle George.” “Great, Great Uncle to you, Dummy!” “Can we see it?” Breakfast time during the term was not a time for long discussions so Lance, getting up, said, “It’s called Greenwood Manor, not too far away. He probably left it to me as all other relatives are miles away, some in New Zealand. I expect he thought we could deal with it. We’ll go and see it on Saturday – oh, that’s tomorrow – right?” How much was true? He kissed his wife ‘goodbye’ and was off. “So,” said Maggie to Annie, you know as much as I do. Can you join us tomorrow? I’ll pick you up.” Also it was not so far out as she had remembered. Lance was stressing this angle and Maggie had confessed to Annie that Lance had the ridiculous idea of their moving to it. One thing was absolutely sure, Maggie had said, and that was her determination not to! Annie was followed by Dudley as she drove up to the imposing front. The Hursts were just in front, it was a small convoy. The young people were almost silent as they climbed out of the car. “Is this it?” Philip asked in tones of awe. “It isn’t anywhere else is it?” his twin told him. Sam said nothing at all, just stared and Pat thought of every word she knew to express her surprise and admiration. Dudley had disappeared round the back. Annie was suspicious, this assembly had a contrived feel to it. Dudley, for one thing, had obviously been here before. Perhaps it was all innocent, perhaps Lance had often been kind and visited a lonely old uncle, or perhaps not. “You know it’s haunted?” asked Dudley as he left, “No-one will come near the place.” They went inside. There was a pleasant hall with huge open fireplace but no fire had been burned there for many a year. On the other side, opposite the fireplace was a wide staircase curving round at the top to two landings. “Rather beautiful,” said Annie, to be met by a glance of hostility from Maggie. “Come and look,” called Sam from the large vaulted room to which the entrance hall led. They followed him in, aroused by the urgency in his voice. The room was empty except for a large concert grand piano. Even Lance looked startled. But, thought Annie, perhaps he had expected it to have been removed. From an insignificant door at the side of the room Dudley suddenly appeared. “Ah ha!” he said. “Ah what?” asked Maggie. “It explains about the ghost,” said Dudley. No-one ever sees anyone by day, but they hear the ghostly music at night.” “A ghost?” asked Annie. “A little girl went missing, six she was and very pretty, her parents say she is still alive but the village says it’s her ghost.” Annie agreed with him but she was vaguely uneasy. Sam was gazing into the open piano admiring the strings. “It’s beautiful,” he said. “Could I learn to play it? It must belong to Victoria Wood,” ventured Sam. “She has a large piano, she must put it somewhere.” His theory was ignored. “Learn to play the piano?” Lance replied, “It’s more difficult than a recorder. First adjust your seat for height and comfort.” They looked around – no height or comfort. No, one lesson ruined and Sam, losing interest, went to join his siblings. Jane said, “Come on, let’s go upstairs,” they returned to the ante-room with the fireplace and enticing looking stairway. “We can decide on our rooms!” ‘No chance of a ghost with this lot around!’ thought Annie. “When did Great Uncle George die?” Annie asked Lance, she had been an onlooker for some time. Perhaps his was this ‘ghost’. “Sev…,” Lance began and added, “Why don’t you go home?” “Not for worlds,” retorted Annie as she joined Maggie. “Nothing to laugh about,” said Maggie crossly. “Tell me about it,” Annie said, continuing to enjoy the goings on in her own way. ‘It’s no good,’ she told herself. ‘I have to know the ins and outs of a case! It’s all so contrived – there’s nothing real, certainly no ghost.’